Boiler and the like



Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,133

J. E. HoT'rMAN BOILER AND THE LIKE Filed June 7, 1924 ,figg @741122,60 I'wn, y v

Jan. 8, 1929.-

J. F. H'rTMAN BOILER AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheety 2 J. F. Ho'rTMAN BoILER AND THE LIKE Jan. s, 1929.

Filed June '2, 1924 4 sheets-sheet 3 Jan. 8, 1929.

JQ F. HoTTMAN BoILER AND' THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Il! llllll ill.

Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

narran stares 1,698,1331 earear orrice]` J' F. HOT'lLllLflil',V 0F CHCAGO, ILLINOIS.

Bonne AND THE LIKE.

Application led .Tune 7,

ers, but is also applicable to other boiler conu y structionsjof relatively vlarge size. ln gen-` eral, my improvements relate to all inter` nally fired steam boilers which have essentially a rectangular fire box,V and are commonly-known as locomotive type boilers, and J said improvements pertain especially to locomotive boilers, butlf do not intend to limit t-he same to this typeoi' boiler.V ln describe ing theinvention I 4Will in my descriptionof the same deal With and make` use of locomo- `tive boilers merely for the purpose of set-ting forth my improvements more clearly.

Locomotive boilers for some years past and at the present time havereached the clearance limits of the railways in sofar Width y of fire boX and diameter of the barrel of the locomotive boiler is concerned.y The only increase in size and capacity Vpossible is in rthe length of the barrel. This increase in length of barrel causes an abnormal length of the `flues or lire tubes of the boiler. This abnormal flue length in the barrel has brought about serious defects to thel iront -part'ofthe barrel and the flues in this part of the boiler, notably pitting and corrosion of these parts, allot which is caused. by lack of heat in the forward part of the barr-el ,of large and long locomotive boilers. rlhis has caused a non release of thesteam bubbles to the surface of the Water line, causingvgeneralrsluggish ac-V tion in the forward part of the barrel, causing injurious matter to be trapped in they Water which attacks thel material of the boiler. ln addition, this sluggishness ofthe Water in the front part of the locomotive hea-t generated in the hre box. y

The above' failings have to some yextent been recognized and combustion chambers have' been added to the locomotive fire boxes.v

tive barrel have not been overcome nor has the premature Wasting away or failing` of the tubes or flues and the boiler shell inthe for- 4 Ward part of the locomotive boiler barrel. been relieved. As a consequence, the usersoi" large numbers of locomotive boilers have been put to great expense forrepairs, replacement of boilerfparts and materia-l, `and to fuel losses for Which no adequate return is y received. On the contrary, the addition oi a boiler barrel results in considerable loss ofthe l However, the deficienciesuof the long locomo-l y 1924.Y seriai No. 718,439.

combustion chamber to a fireboX adds a large burden to the first cost of the locomotive boiler and subsequently adds a heavyk burden for maintenance charges in order toV lreep the locomotive boiler in serviceable condition. All of the above is brought about by the large number ol stay bolts necessary to apply a combustion chamber properly and safely to any locomotive lire box. Furthermore,.the application of acombustion chamber tothe locomotive fire box brings the combustion chamber intopthe rear end of the cylindrical boiler barrel, which cylindrical course is Vselfsustaining' by itself. The application of a combustion chamber which extends into the rear end of the cylindrical boiler barrel4 and is connected thereto by large numbers.l of screw stay .bolts vset-s up stresses whichV arev diiiicult to locate or deiine, although the-fact that they are ever present isalwaysevident from the cost of maintaining this part of the locomotive iirebox in active service.' v

According to the present invention, l-provide a combustion chamber separate and distinct from the fire box itself and locate lthe same at or near the center of the boiler barrel at lwhich point it is properly supported with respect tothe boiler barrel; l also provide iues or lire tubes of `comparatively large size leading from the front end of the lire 'box into Vsaid combustion chamber; so that some of the aming gases can reach through these flues or tubes of large` size and directly into said combustion chamberi. Consequently, a large portion of the flaming gases reach-,the center of the boiler barrel vvith` a relatively small drop of heatv from ,the temperature in the iire bon. rlhis is not the case with the previous type of locomotive boiler Combustion chamber Whiehconstitutes in eilect merely a directA forward extension from `the front end of the fire box; since this previous construction gives only a very small length of flame travel-normally,from three to six feet-'and when the flame gases strike and enter `the very small tubes and flues previously used, the ames of said gases are extinguished-to a ylarge extent and sometimes entirely.` yThus l `it will be seen that thelarge body ofwater in the locomotive barrel is vnot properly heated because of the reduced or extinguishedr Y motive fire box. Since the water surrounding this fire box constitutes only al small part "and makes it necessary to renew the fire box long before its time. All this causes loss in y fire box.

coal, material and revenue of the locomotive when premature renewals `are made to the With my improved arrangement of fiame flues and combustion chamber reaching approximately to the center of the locomotive boiler barrel, the flaming gases exert their rmaximum effect where tlie largest bulk ofl water is present, thus relieving the firev box ofthe large burden of the woik to be done, namely, production of steam.

My improved vconstruction of boiler, by bringing the flaming ygases approximately to the center 'of the boiler barrel, reduces thek length of the Vflues or tubes in the extreme forward 1 section of the barrel` to a length which is more efficient than an-extremely vlong flue in the diameters as universally used in locomotive boilers. Approximately the iues or tubes in the front part of the barrel will be from thirty to fifty diameters in length based on the type of flue or tube used, and the stand- Agenerator throughout Vthe whole length of the ard lflues will be approximately from seventy to eighty-five diameters in length. This will raise the water to high temperature in the forward part of the locomotive boiler barrel and will cause better circulation, thus removing the cause'of-pitting and corrosion that is so prevalent in the extremely long locomotive barrels, and which is found almost altogether in the flu'es, shell and forward flue sheet in the barrel.

My improved boiler construction is a steam locomotive boiler barrel instead of being a prelieater of the water at the forward end as 1s the case with previous types of construe tion. Also kmyimproved boiler construction will give a slightly larger water content to any givensize of locomotive boiler barrel, a more eflicient heating surface, and a reduc tion of fifteen hundred to two thousand pounds in vweight on axles for an average of the present locomotive boiler as found in use at this time.

Reference may nowy be had -to the drawings in which:

`Figure 1 shows a section through one construction of boiler embodying the features of the present invention, there being a number of different sizes of flues or tubes between the fire box and the combustion chamber;

Figure V1a shows a horizontal section on the line 1 1n of Figs. 1 and 2, looking in the direc-tion ofthe arrows;

Fig. 2 -shows a cross section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 shows a cross section on the line l line 7 7 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows; Y

Fig. 8 shows a fragmentary section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6, looking inthe direction of the arrows, but illustrating and embodying another flue or tube arrangement;

Fig. 9 shows a fragmentary vlongitudinal section throughranother modified form of i construction Fig. 10 shows a cross section on the line 10 10 o-f Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 shows aV fragmentary longitudinal section through another modified form` of construction and Fig. 12 shows a fragmentary longitudinalA section on enlarged scale illustrating the attachment of a flue or tube :to the flanged out port-ion of the flue sheet of the construction of Fig. 11.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the boiler therein illustrated includes the barrel or shelll 15 which is built up from the sections 16, 17 'and 18. The section 18 is "preferably 'of vlarger size than the section 16, the lintermediate sec tion 17 being conical, so 'that the top and bottom portions of thel section 18 stand respectively higher andlower than the top and bottom portions of the section 16.

At the rear end of the boiler is the fire box 19, the same being located within the section 20. This section, as sho-wn in Fig. 2, is of the usual inverted U-shape. Itincludes the outer land inner shells 21gand 22 respectively, the shells being separated in their top andl side portions so as to establish Ithe continuation ychamberV which includes the water-legs 23 and 24. The mud-ring 25 closesthe lower portion of the space between the plates 21 and 22.

The smoke box 26 is formed at ythe front end of thel shell in accordance witli'standard rpracstruction. Itis also the customary practice at the present time to place'a yflue sheet V27 the front. set although this is 'a mattei' ot opat the front end of the boiler section 16 and another flue sheet at the front end of the lire box 19, and then to extend the tire lues or tubes the entire distance continuously be- Y tween these flue sheets. lt 'has also been previous practice to extend the front portion of the tire box forwardly a substantial distance Within the section 18 so as to establish a combustion chamber and thus place the flue sheet thereof closer to the flue sheet 27.

According to the present invention, l place a. flue sheet 28 at or adjacent to the front end of the tire box, or at the frontend of the extended combustion chamber, it. one is used, and I then place a combustion Vchamber 29 bei tween these flue sheets, and substantially halt Way beti'veen them. This (.fombustion chant ber 29 is in turn pro vided with front and rear flue sheets 30v and 31, and I provide a series` of'flues or tubes between the itluev sheet 28 at or adjacent to the front end of the i'ire box and the flue sheet 31, and another set of tubes or lues 4between the flue sheet 30 and the flue sheet 27 Which is at thefront end of the boiler and near the smolre box. These I will desig! nate as the rearV and front' sets ot lues re-KV spectively. f

Ordinarily the liues or tubes of the rear set will be ot' larger size relatively than those ci tion in design.. ln any case, however, the rear-set ot luesor tubes constitute lire ilues ot sutlicient size to pass the flames Without extinguishing them, so that said flames are delivered through the rear set of tlues and into the combustion chamber 29 and may redistribute Within said combustion chamber and enter the tlues or tubes of the front set in redistributed condition and flow i therethrough under conditions 01"' flow established by the relative lengths of the ilues or tubes of the front set as compared to their diameters. L

Frein the above it is apparent that With a boiler of given overall dimensions between the flue sheets 2S and 27 tlieactual lengths of the individual lues or tubes will Ordinar ily be lessthan one-half the actual distance between the flue sheets. For this reason, the

overall length of the boiler may be very inaterially increased Without increasing` the ratio ci length to diameter of the Huesor tubes; or on the other hand it it: is unobjectionable to maint-ain a certain ratio of length'to the' .diameter of tlues or tubes, the overall length of the boiler may be very materially increased Wit-houtseriously increasing the obstruct-ion Vto the flow of gases or reducing the average steaming capacity per square toot ot flue or tube surface, and in any case, the rear set are fire flues or tubes to vdeliver the flames Vto the combustion chamber.

In the particular construction illustrated, the combustion chamber 29 is a pressure sus! taining barrel of corrugated steel haif'ingla g flanged head riveted to .each end.. These heads constitute the Hue sheets 3Q and 'A3-1, all

ready'referredto The i'veight of lues or tubes, combustion chamber and superheater units if usedmay the stays 32 and 33 being pinned to the yokes .36 and 37 which are in turn screwed yor other-v wise secured into the corrugated shell.-

Ordinarilythere will be provided a rela- 5 tively large liame `itlue 38 `reaching between the lower' portion ot the Vflue sheet 28, and the lower portion ot the tlue-sheetfl. This Irelativelv lai-fre flame flue 38 should be 'of suiii cient size vto pass a large part ot the flame;

and incidentally to allow a. Workman to pass through into the combustion chamber 29 dur-l ing construction or repair. `Preferably also this flame lue 38 is made 'oi corrugated sheet steel and riveted to flanges of the tluesheets Y 28 and 31 respectively. 1

Ext-ending between the lue` sheets 28 and Slisfa group ot flues or tubes Which occupy( Y.

practically the entire space available so as to secure the maximum` amount'of lgas carrying capacity. These flues or tubes may be of f equall or dilterent sizes, and in the construe tion ot Figs. l, 1a, 2, 3 4: and 5, lV-have illustrat-ed tivo sizes of flues' or tubes designated v39 and 40. This arrangement is desirable in many Ways.,V but under 'some circumstances it will befouiid preferable to make the liues or tubes all or" the same size, as shown for example in the modifications illustrated in:

2,y 3,4 and 5, the flue sheet 28 is setinto aninter'-V` mediate section 41 which has its edge portion Figs. Sand 9.

In the construction of `Figs. l, la.,

llanged and riveted int-o t-hev front edge ot f the tire box sheet 22 which largely in accordance with present practice. i.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5in particuv lar, it Will be noted that the position .of thecombustion chamber 29 is such that the lowg ermost lues or Ytubesleading;forwardly therej from Will properly enter the flue sheet 27 at the smoke box end; and it is also observed that the size of thecombustion chamber 29 is such that the upper fluesof both the lront and rear sectionsivill come into proper'position with respect to the upper portion of the lire box and-combustion chamber. Further-L `more, the combustion chamber 29 should preferably be of 4such sizev and shape that it can be readily set into placejthroughthe Opening in the front portion of the irebox, thus facilitating` construction. f Itv may, therefore, be stated that 'the diameter of the combustion chamber`29 should be jV 42 of 'the hre box sheet 28 or 50a, and the loWerPoition as defined by the posit-ion of the lsuch astobe includedg'within the top portion loweryportion of the circle .of the front Hue sheet 27. These facts are readily apparent from an examination of Figs. `2 and 3 in particular. The flue space occupied by the front and rear groups of flues or tubes which are connected into t-he combustion chamber 29 does not occupy a portion of flue sheet at each side of'this area. This fact is apparent from Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, wherein are observed the groups of side flues or tubes 43 and 44 respectively. The iues or tubes of these two' groups reach directly between the front and rear flue sheets at the extreme endsof the flue or tube section of the boiler and extend past f the position of the combustion chamber 29.

In the modified construction of Figs. 6,

Y 7 and 8, the flue sheets 45 and 46 at the front Y Furthermore, in

and rear ends of the combustion chamber 29 are set against intermediate rings 47 and 48, the ends of the combustion chamber itself ybeing flanged outwardly and then all parts 49 and 50 by which the structure is held in place.

In the modified construction of Figs. 9 Vand 10, the lues or tubes 49 of the rear section yare all --of the ysame size with the exception of the lowermost flame flue 38 which is of larger slze.

In the modified construction of Figs. 11 and 12, Vthe front port-ion of the fire box is closed directly by a single sheet 50a which has its edge portion flanged and set directly Yinto the fire box sheet 22 as will be clearly evident from Fig. 11. That is to say, use of two `sections has been eliminated and the front fire box section andthe tube sheet 'are a single structure.

Fig. 12, I have shown the flue sheet as being flanged outwardly to establish the circular iianges 51 into which are set the end portions yof the flues'or tubes `52. The parts are then joined together by rivets 53 which'are countersunk into the lines or tubes so as to eliminate any obstruction to the flow of flame and gases. I haveillustrated'the usual steam dome 54'in the boiler section'17 and above the position of ltheco'mbustion chamber 29.

It will be noted that in each instance, the combustion chamberis of substantially larger cross sectional yarea than that of either group of flues or tubes. Furthermore, the combustion chamber is of substantial volume asfcompared to volume of gases contained within either group'of fiues or tubes. As a consequence, the intermittent pull, due to the vintermittent nature of the locomotive Y Y draft created by the cylinder exhausts, will vbe largely equalized withingthe ycombustion chamber, and also within Vrelatively. large Vflues or tubes of the rear group, so that a to limit myself to the same, except as Imay do so in the claims.

I claim: c v

l. In a steam boiler, the combination with the fire box and the flue sheet at thefront end of the same, together `with the flue sheetat vthe front end of the boiler, of a cylindrical combustion chamber Within the barrel of the boiler between saidflue sheets, iue sheets V'at the front and rear ends of said combustion chamber, a series of large flues or tubes reaching from the fire box flue sheet to the rear combustion chamber flue sheet, including a flame flue of relatively larger size, a series of flues or tubes reaching from `the flue sheet at the flue sheet at the front end of the boiler, and aseries of straight lues or tubes reaching from each side portion of the fire box flue sheet directly forward to the side portions of the flue sheet at the front endof vthe boiler Vthe front end of the combustion chamber to n and extending directly past the side portions of the combustion chamber, substantially as described. v f

2. In a steam` boiler, ithe combination with the fire box and the front iiue sheet thereof, together with the flue sheet at the front end'of the boiler, of a combustion c-hambexrrwithin the barrel of the boiler vfbetweensaid flue sheets, flue sheets at the front and rear ends of said combustion chamber, a series of "fire vflues or tubes reaching from the fire box flue sheet to -the rear combustion chamber flue sheet, a series of fiues or tubes reaching from the flue sheet at lthe front end of the combustion chamber to the flue sheet at the front end of the boiler, and a. series of straight flues or tubes located at one side of' the combustion chamber vand reaching directly from the fire box flue sheet forwardly to the fluefsheet at the front end of the boiler, substantially as described.

3. In a steam boiler having an integrally constructed fire box in its rear portion, to-A gether with a series ofstrai'ght flues or tubesV lextending' longitudinally of the boiler direct-` ly from the front sheet of the fire box to the inally from the lire box to they rear end of the vcombustion chamber, and a series of flues or tubes extending longitudinally from 'the' front end of the combustion chamber to the front end of the boiler,substantially as described.

front flue sheet of the boiler, a combustion chamber within the barrel of the boiler, a`

'series of fiues or tubes extending longitud- 12o end of the firebox. a flue sheet at the front end of the barrel, a group of flues or tubes remise reaching'forwardly from the IFirebox flue sheet,`

and substantially embraced Within the circle Whose diameter has one terminus dened by the top or highest point of the iirebox, end its other terminus deiiiied by the bottoni zuid lowest point ot' the flue Sheetatl the front end of the boiler barrel, it cylindrical coiiibuetion chamber of any desired length within the barre-l of the boiler having a diameter substentially the serie as that justdeiiiied the group of flues osrtubes aforesaid reaching from the lireboX flue Sheet into seid combustion chamber, another group of fiues or tubes embracing e Similar area reaching *from the combustion chamber to the front boiler flue sheet, and a group of straight lues or tubes outside of the area so 'defined reaching directly Jfrom the iireboX flue Sheet forwardly to the flue sheet et the front eid of the boiler and past the combustion chamber, substantially as described.

5. In zt steam boiler having a iirebox of the locomotive type :uid e forwardly extending cylindrical barrel, a flue sheet' at the lront end of the firebox, :t flue Sheet at the iront eiid or tbe boiler, a group of liues 0r tubes reaching forwardly from the fireboX flue sheet and embraced Within t smaller area than tbe rtree substantially embraced Within the circle Whose diameter lies one terminus defined by the top or the highest point oi' the iirebox, and its other terminus defined byy the bottoniand lowest point ,of the flue sheet at the front end of the boiler barrel, e cylirif drical combustion chamber of any desired length Within the barrel of the boiler and .having'an aree substantially the seme als the smaller area just defined, said group of iues or tubes reechiiig` from the irebox flue sheet into said combustion chamber, another group of -lues or tubes embracing zt similar l front end or' the boiler, Substeiitiallyes described.

JOHN r. HOTTMAN. I, 

